Elysian (Samantila Series #1)

22

Months and months have passed and finally, here I am, on my 11th grade of highschool.

My 10th grade graduation was full of euphoric feelings. Kasama ang pamilya at si Stage, I enjoyed the day, taking note that I am now one step closer to the future.

Going back to the present– I am currently at Briseis' house with my cousins. Wala si Stage ngayon dahil may hiwalay silang plano ng mga pinsan niya rin. He was hesitating to go but I encouraged him to follow his cousins' plans. Lagi niya nalang kasi ako kasama. His cousins might be missing him. Ayaw ko naman siya angkinin kaya heto kami ngayon, spending the day with separate plans.

I put the lollipop Cazian gave to me earlier to my mouth while watching my cousins do a live stream on a social media platform.

"Live selling po ito! Live selling! Just comment "mine" plus the product's name and its yours! No bogus po, please." instructions ni Elzaire habang nakaharap sa cellphone ni Mazikien na syang ginagamit nila sa pagla-live.

Ngumiwi ako, "They're a bunch of idiots."

Bumuntong hininga naman si Xautheus sa tabi ko, "Couldn't agree more."

Ngumiti naman ng nakakaloko si Zaire habang nakaharap sa camera at hinarap sa camera si Guinevere. Ang pinsan ko namang babae ay nakasimangot lang.

"Comment mine plus Guinevere."

Umupo ako nang maayos nang makita ang pamimilog ng mata ni Zaire habang nakatingin sa screen. "Woah! Mister Acrylleus Parcon said mine! Pa-screenshot nalang po at pa-pm sa amin."

"Chain! What are you doing?" ani Guine.

I pouted. What's with her and Chain Parcon? Hindi ba't sabi niya ay si Breaker ang gusto niya?

Nagtuloy-tuloy ang "live selling" ng mga pinsan ko hanggang sa napilit na nila si Pacen na sumali.

"Hindi po kasama yung iba naming pinsan dito. Si Raiah po kasi ay nasa palawan at si Reoh naman ay may iba nang gusto. Yung isa po naming pinsan, si Amaterasu ay may boyfriend na same with Dice na may fiancee na. Kaya ito na po ang pangalawa sa huli naming pinsan." si Bri saka hinila si Pacen paharap sa camera.

"Humarap ka!" pagalit na bulong ni Briseis na nagpatawa sa'min.

"Yeah, yeah. Calm down." si Pacen na humarap naman sa camera.

Bri smirked, "Okay! Reason for selling po is medyo may defect po ang social skills nya. Don't worry, gwapo naman po sya at matalino. Pwede na pong gawing accessory pag naalis kayo at iba pa. Comment mine plus Pacen Keelan."

"Gago! Andaming nag cocomment." bulong ni Xau na bumalik sa tabi ko matapos ang turn nya kanina sa live.

Kaya sinilip ko ang cellphone nya, kung saan pinapanood nya ang live. It was true! Marami ngang nagcocomment at hindi lang yon! The people who are watching currently reached to a thousand.

Sunod-sunod rin ang mga nag cocomment kaya hindi masyado makita kung sino nga bang nag ma-mine kay Pacen.

"Kumalma po tayo! Kumalma! Seller's screen po tayo..." Briseis said then scrolled through the phone.

Tumagal sya roon ng mga tatlong minuto bago nya ata nakita ang unang nag mine. Pacen looked like he's getting bored of what they're doing.

"Oh my god!" reaction ni Briseis nang makita ata ang nag comment saka nilingon nang may malaking ngiti si Pacen.

"Tangina.. Minine ni Acee Montaruel si Pacen!" sila Zaire na nag sscroll din sa phone.

"Alright, alright, Miss Acee Montaruel said mine first! Can pay asap daw kaya, sige, Miss Acee, sainyo na po si Pacen!" Maze excitedly said.

"Hoy! Anong meron sainyo ni Acee, ha?" tanong ni Zaire matapos ang "live". Tahimik naman akong nakinig.

"I don't know. She said she likes me." Pacen shrugged.

Tinignan sya ni Cazian mula ulo hanggang paa saka sinabing, "Anong meron sa'yo?"

Bri butted in to their conversation, "Acee probably find Pacen matino than you guys. Saka Pacen's handsome naman, ah. Matalino rin.." Bri said then she looked at Pacen.

"Whatever you guys say." si Pacen naman saka chill na umupo sa couch.

I never thought Acee would like Pacen. I mean, yes, he's likeable but, in all seriousness, Acee's surrounded by handsome guys and when I say handsome, they're really handsome.

Starting from my boyfriend, Stage Lacsamana who's a campus "standard" to her most famous cousin, Chemical Montaruel.

There are a lot of boys at school who's chasing her or who have her as their crush. Kaya ang malaman na gusto nya ang pinaka tahimik kong pinsang lalaki na si Pacen Keelan Samantila ay isang nakakagulat na balita para sa'kin. But, if she have Elzaire or Cazian as her crush, mas lalo akong magugulat.

It's not that my cousins are ugly. Just like what I've said, they're all handsome but Acee's beauty is like, a model's or a beauty queen. If ever that Acee and Pacen will become a couple (considering that Acee's slapping to Pacen's face that she likes him), they will become the school's most famous couple.

With Pacen's good school records, and Acee's popularity, no doubt. They'll be famous.

If only they'll be together, though.

I was busy listening to my cousins' conversation when my phone beeped. It was a message from Stage.

Binuksan ko ito, at napangiti ako nang makita ang nakanguso niyang picture na sinend. He also sent another text message.

Stage:

Missing you

A smile is plastered on my face while I am typing a reply.

Me:

You look cute on that photo. I wanna make it my wallpaper.

Agad namang nagreply si Stage.

Stage:

Oh, love. You should. Should I take a thousand of pictures with the same pose?

Me:

I'd love to see you do other poses though.

"Oh to be a lovesick person." si Guinevere na nakangiti sa'kin. She sat beside me.

"He just keeps on messaging me." I didn't say that to defend myself.

"You're both too in love with each other. Magwa-one year na kayo, 'no?"

"Uhh," I paused to check the date. "Yup, next month."

Ang tagal na pala na'min.

"Nakaka-kilig naman 'yan. You guys are super bagay. When kaya?" pahayag ni Guine at tinigalid ang ulo ng bahagya.

"You're so humble naman. What's about you and Acrylleus Chain, huh?" pang-iintriga ko. She's not telling me stories these days..

Nawala naman ang magandang ngiti sa mukha nya saka sya umiling, "No. I'm just friends with him. Recently lang.."

Then, there's only two things why she still consider Chain as her friend. It's either– "You still like Breaker?" I asked. Or she just really see Chain platonically.

She just let a small smile and avoided my gaze.

Oh. It's the former.